At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, Downtown Branch patrol officers responded to numerous reports of gunshots in the area of Jasper Avenue and 116 Street. Upon arrival, officers located Kelsey Ouellette, 31, who had been shot. Responding officers applied emergency first-aid until paramedics arrived. Ouellette was declared deceased on scene.
On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, an autopsy completed by the Edmonton Medical Examiner determined that Kelsey died of multiple gunshot wounds, and her manner of death was homicide.
Kelsey Ouellette
Photo provided by Kelsey Ouellette’s family and released with their permission
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, police released video and an image of an SUV believed to be related to Kelsey’s death with the hope of identifying and locating the suspect driving it. At this time, detectives continue to investigate, and the identity and whereabouts of the suspect(s) remain unknown.
Since then, investigators continue to piece together details about Kelsey’s life, in particular the eight-month period leading up to her murder. On, Monday, June 6, 2022, Kelsey’s boyfriend, Nicolas (Nic) Chamberland, 34, was located deceased at his residence in the northwest neighbourhood of Carlton. Since Kelsey’s death, detectives are re-examining the circumstances that preceded and followed Nicholas’ sudden death, and links that are believed to exist between their relationship and Kelsey’s murder.
“In June 2022 Kelsey experienced a life-changing event when her boyfriend, Nicolas, suddenly passed away,” says Acting Staff Sergeant Jared Buhler with the EPS Homicide Section. “At this time, we believe Kelsey’s murder relates to significant criminal events associated to Nicolas Chamberland and / or persons in his network, which occurred within a context of high-level organized crime. While Nicolas’ death may be non-criminal, the circumstances of his and Kelsey’s life in the months preceding and following his death are of significant interest to the investigation.”
“We are hopeful that releasing these details will encourage anyone with information about the events before or after Nicolas’ death to contact police.”
Nicolas (Nic) Chamberland
Nicolas was also known as “Maverick” or “Mav” in some circles
Investigators also continue to ask any of Kelsey’s friends or acquaintances who may have had contact with her between June and November of 2022 to contact the EPS by calling 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.
Background information
On Nov. 16, 2022, police publicly released video footage of a white Toyota SUV that was in the area of Jasper Avenue and 116 Avenue around the time of Ouellette’s death. A still photo of a burned-out 2016 white Toyota Highlander found burning in the area of 259 Avenue and 18 Street at approximately 8:45 p.m. that same evening was also released. The burned-out vehicle was confirmed stolen from northwest Calgary in August 2022 and was outfitted with a license plate that was stolen from west Edmonton in early October 2022. The stolen license plate number, Alberta Plate: CKP5569, was also the subject of a photo radar ticket on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, on Yellowhead Trail westbound at 107 Street.
Investigators have since confirmed the burned-out vehicle was the Toyota SUV depicted in the video and continue to believe it was driven by the murder suspect(s).
